After learning that a Harford Schools teaching aide was arrested and charged twice by police for illegally possessing guns, legislators have renewed questions about how the public school system handles employees who face criminal charges — and at least one is again calling for Superintendent Sean Bulson to be removed as a result.

State Del. Lauren Arikan, a Republican who represents Harford County, wrote a letter to the Harford County Board of Education Friday demanding the board vote to deny the renewal of Bulson’s contract. She told The Aegis Bulson has allowed multiple people “charged with appalling crimes” to work with the county’s children.

She previously called for Bulson’s termination after learning Lawrence Smith had been hired by Edgewood Middle School teacher while he was awaiting trial on wire fraud and tax evasion charges, to which he eventually pleaded guilty. Smith resigned from his post last month.

“The fish rots from the head,” Arikan said Friday. “It’s time for us to find a superintendent that better reflects the values of the community out here in Harford. I find it incredibly disturbing that somebody with gun charges could be in school with our most vulnerable children. I think any parent is horrified.”

Harford Schools did not respond to questions Friday.

The Baltimore Sun and The Aegis reported earlier Friday that former Edgewood Elementary School aide Kairen Thomas, 28, of Parkville, was charged with illegally possessing a gun in an Edgewood neighborhood this summer while on probation for illegally possessing another gun in 2024, a case that came less than a year after he was hired by HCPS to provide one-on-one support to students with severe disabilities. A trial is set for January.

The school system said Thursday that he is no longer employed there, but it’s not clear when or why he left the job. Mary Lloyd Patton, a lawyer who represents Thomas, declined to comment while the case is pending.

As of Thursday evening, Thomas was still listed as a staff member on Edgewood Elementary School’s website. His name appeared to have been removed by Friday.

Arikan’s letter called for “a full audit” of how Thomas continued “to have access to children after his charges.” She wrote the results of the audit should be shared publicly.

Arikan also said she is working on legislation to strengthen background checks for educators and prevent anyone charged with a felony or a crime of violence from working in the school system until the matter is adjudicated. The bill is being drafted now, she said.

Longtime state Del. Susan McComas, another Republican who represents Harford, said she’d like to see more information about these incidents before making a move legislatively.

“Obviously these facts need to be referred to law enforcement so that we understand exactly how this happened,” McComas said in an email, adding that she wants to know if this situation was “intentional, negligence, or something else” before she can say if legislation is “the best way to resolve this.”

“Since the Republicans are only 28% of the House and Senate, we will need to have Democratic senators and delegates support any bills that we will be filing to rectify this situation,” McComas said. “At this point I am for having an unbiased professional investigation to understand if these allegations are true — what happened that allowed these folks to be hired, were they properly vetted, and were any school children harmed by these individuals while they worked in the Harford County Schools?”

Harford County Public Schools has not responded to a request for more information about Thomas’ employment or about how the school system vets both prospective and existing employees.

The school system’s handbook for substitute teachers says: “All HCPS employees are expected to promote a positive professional and personal image. If during employment, an employee is arrested for or charged with any crime, including alcohol or drug related charges, with the exception of minor traffic violations, it is the responsibility of the employee to inform their immediate supervisor within 24 hours.”

The Maryland State Education Association union also says that “all boards of education have policies which protect students and the school environment by requiring employees to immediately self-report any charges, arrests, or convictions. If you don’t self-report, your employer will discover the infraction through a report generated by the Maryland Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS). If the employer learns of the activity from CJIS and not you, your failure to self-report will result in disciplinary consequences for a violation of board of education policy.”

Baltimore Sun reporter Matt Hubbard contributed to this story. Have a news tip? Contact Brendan Nordstrom at bnordstrom@baltsun.com or at 443-900-1353. Contact Bryna Zumer at bzumer@baltsun.com, or on X as @brynazumer.